2:1 In order to live “in the light” (1:5-7), one must confess sin (1:9) and stop sinning. John emphasizes sin in ch 1 in order to make believers despise their sin and avoid it. • if anyone does sin: Believers should repudiate sin, but they should not fear confessing sins to God. • advocate (Greek paraklētos, “one who is called to our side” as comforter or advocate): Christ is our defense attorney, representing us before the Father in heaven (see Rom 8:26-34; cp. John 14:16). • Jesus Christ, the . . . righteous: We, in contrast, are sinful. Because Christ fulfilled the law and paid sin’s penalty for us, he can plead for us on the basis of justice as well as mercy. When God raised Christ from the dead, he accepted once for all Christ’s plea for our acquittal (see Rom 4:23-25). “The righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God’s righteousness is, in Jesus Christ, ours” (Martin Luther).